Utility tape dispensing device



March 16, 1954 M. MARTIN ET AL 2,671,917

UTILITY TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1950 Patented Mar. 16, 1954 OFFICE UTILITY TAPEDISPENSING DEVICE Lucille Mary- Martin, Chicago; and Charles J. Foxgrover, J r., Park Forest, 111..

Application July .20, 195.0, SerialNo. 174,902.

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to tape dispensers and more particularly to a tape dispenser for pressure sensitive adhesive tape having means for holding a length of pressure sensitive tape in such a manner that the adhesive face of the tape can be applied to textile materials for the purpose of removing dirt and lint from the material.

The pressure sensitive adhesivetapes have utility in removing dirt'and lint from textile materials when the adhesive faceor side of the tape is brought into contact with the fabric. Cellophane pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, now on the market, are particularly useful for this purpose.

It is the object of this. invention to provide a tape dispenser having means for holding a length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape with the adhesive side exposed so that it can be readily applied as a lint removing device to the surface of a fabric.

It is another object of the invention toprovide a tape dispenser having means for severing the length of pressure sensitive adhesive after application to fabric and in the same operation readying a further length of tape for application to a fabric.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser having means for severing a length of tape for use other than the application to a fabric.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser for a roll of tacky, adhesive-coated tape which has provisions for supporting the free end of the tape in either of two positions, one enabling the tape to be drawn off the roll and severed for use apart from the dispenser, and the other holding the tape in best position to be employed in conjunction with the dispenser as a lint removing device.

Although particularly devised to attain the above stated objects, it should, of course, be understood that the device of the present invention can be used in any operation where it is desired to bring the surface of a rolled material in tape form into contact with another surface. A small unit capable of being carried in a purse or pocket is primarily contemplated; however, the invention is in no way restricted as regards the size of the unit or the manner of use thereof.

The present invention will be better understood by referring to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side view of a tape dispenser emembodying the principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the dispenser of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a bottomview of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top view-of the dispenser of Fig,- ure 1, and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line V--V of Figurel;

The tape dispenser shoun in the drawings is comprised of'two main parts or sections I and 2 which fit together and form a housing for the roll of tape. Sections- I and 2' of the housing may be made of suitable materialwhich is resilient, such as tin or plastic:

Section I has a flange I2 of a width equal to the thickness of the dispenser and a flat bottom 9' of'the' same width. Section 2 has a relatively short flange II which extends around all sides thereof with the exception of the bottom. The bottom of section! comprises a flange 3- having'at one end thereof anextension which is equal to the thickness of the dispenser as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The extended or wide end of the flange 3 is serrated at its outer edge, providing a serrated knife 1; Section 2 hasa beaded portion or crimped rib I0 near the bottom thereof. Flange It and the crimpedrib' Iil'cooperate with flange 52 and bottom 9 of section I to frictionally hold both sections together. In this relation, flange 3 extends over the bottom 9 of section I, the space therebetween permitting the insertion of a piece of pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

A circular indentation 4 in section I of the housing forms a spindle for the core of a roll of tape and cooperates with section 2 of the housing to rotatably support the roll.

The tape is led out through an arcuate sided opening 5 in the front of the housing and may be engaged and held in one position by the serrated knife 6 located adjacent the top of that opening, or in another position by serrated knife I. The knife 6 is for the purpose of adherently holding the free end of the tape when the dispenser is not in use and as well as for severing a length of tape when the dispenser is being used as an ordinary tape dispenser (i. e., for dispensing a desired length of tape). Serrated knife 6 is integral with section I of the housing.

When the dispenser is to be used to remove lint or dirt from fabric the tape is led over the flange I2 of section I at the front of the housing and at the bottom of the opening 5 and thence between the flange 3 of section 2 and bottom 9 of section I and over the serrated knife I. It should be understood that the flange I2 extends around the entire periphery of section I except at the opening 5. The adhesive side of the tape faces away from bottom 9 and adheres loosely to the narrow flange 3. The dispenser is then ready for application to the fabric for cleaning the same. The dispenser can, for the best results, be drawn over the fabric, and while there is some drag on tape when drawn over the fabric it is held in place by the flange 3. Alternately, if only a small area of the fabric is to be cleaned the dispenser can merely be pressed lightly against the area and then withdrawn, that is, the dispenser can be used to blot the fabric.

When the tape which covers the bottom 9 of the dispenser becomes saturated with lint and dirt, and it is desired to ready a new length of tape it is only necessary to pull the tape loose from the flange 3, draw a fresh length of tape from the roll, insert it between the bottom 9 and the flange 3 and cut ofl the old piece by means of the serrated knife 1.

To facilitate the removal of used tape there is provided an indentation 8 in the bottom 9 of section I of the dispenser which extends behind or back of the serrated knife. To remove a used piece of tape one merely inserts a finger in the indentation 8, grasps the tape and pulls it from between the flange 3 and the bottom 9, draws a new or fresh length from the roll, inserts the new tape in position and draws the old tape against the knife I. The last mentioned operation not only cuts the used tape but also adheres the tape lightly to the flange 3 and knife 1.

Pressure sensitive adhesive tapes are more cohesive than adhesive and accordingly no deposit of adhesive is left on the fabric to which it is applied in above manner nor is any left on the flange 3 after removal, yet they are sumciently adhesive to remove lint and dirt from the most fibrous of fabrics without harming the nap.

After a cleaning operation it is only necessary to remove the tape from between the flange 3 and the bottom 9 of section I and to cut off the used tape by means of knife 6 where the free end of the tape will remain in storage position.

The serrated knives 6 and 1 are of the type shown on U. S. Patent 2, 19,537, hence are not shown in detail because by themselves they form no part of the present invention.

What we claim is:

1. A pressure sensitive adhesive tape holding and dispensing device comprising a pair of separable sections having flanges which nest together to form a housing having an outlet and a flat bottom, means for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape within said housing, a second flange on one of said sections which partially overlaps and is spaced from said bottom, said last mentioned flange serving to hold a length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape with the adhesive side of the tape facing away from said bottom for temporary application to an article, said bottom acting as a backing for said length of tape on application to the article.

2. A device according to claim 1 including a severing blade adjacent said outlet.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said second flange has an extension at one end thereof which is equal to the width of the bottom of the housing and has a serrated edge.

4. A device according to claim 1 including a severing blade integral with the end of said secong flange.

LUCILLE MARY MARTIN. CHARLES J. FOXGROVER, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 897,086 Grand Aug. 25, 1908 1,847,046 Guerra Feb. 23, 1932 1,947,054 McReynolds Feb. 13, 1934 2,102,745 Read Dec. 21, 1937 2,197,224 Peterson Apr. 16, 1940 2,276,296 Flood Mar. 17, 1942 2,295,679 Montbach Sept. 15, 1942 2,324,204 Fischer July 13, 1943 2,423,962 Clark et al. July 15, 1947 2,542,774 Hutchinson Feb. 20, 1951 

